Rephonic
Artwork for Switched on Pop

Switched on Pop

Vulture
Pop Music
Hip Hop
Country Music
Music Industry
Taylor Swift
Madonna
Spotify
Billie Eilish
Tiktok
Sabrina Carpenter
Reggaeton
Beyoncé
Billboard Hot 100
Oasis
Electronic Music
Chappell Roan
American Music
Tate Mcrae
Robyn
Kendrick Lamar

Listen closer to pop music — hear how it moves us. Hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan & songwriter Charlie Harding. From Vulture and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes532Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music CommentaryMusic InterviewsMusic

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Switched on Pop

Latest Episodes

Kacey Musgraves' album Middle of Nowhere finds the country outlaw taking a break from exploring her inner life to look outward, back to her roots: the regional stylings of Texas. She says the album was inspired by a sign in her hometown that read “Go... more

The pedal steel and the saz both live in the spaces between equal-tempered notes, and that gap is where Rostam built American Stories.

Rostam joined Vampire Weekend at Columbia in 2006, produced the band's first three albums, and after leaving in 20... more

The flowers are blooming and the calendar says May. That can only mean one thing: the Eurovision Song Contest is upon us once again. This year, thirty-five countries face off to determine the best song that Europe and adjacent continents have to offe... more

How do you write a rap verse that's clever without saying so? Samara Cyn, one of the sharpest young writers in hip-hop, joins us to talk about Detour, her new EP about going analog. We get into wordplay versus narrative, the Missy Elliott blueprint b... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Popcast
PopcastThe New York Times
Song Exploder
Song ExploderHrishikesh Hirway
The Sam Sanders Show
The Sam Sanders ShowKCRW & Sam Sanders

Recent Guests

Samara Cyn
Award-winning rapper and artist discussed in interview format
Episode: Samara Cyn is rap's best new writer
Gucci Caliente
Self-taught producer who trained at Limpi; later joined a band and pursued industry work
Limpi / Lillahammer Institute of Music Production and Industries
Episode: Olivia Rodrigo and the second verse massacre
Haley Joel
Artist and songwriter featured in Limpi program segment
Limpi program graduate
Episode: Hrishikesh Hirway made an album about running out of time — in no time
Hye Jin Lee
Clinical associate professor of communication at the USC Annenberg School
University of Southern California (USC)
Episode: BTS is back. But K Pop is not the same.
Maggie Rogers
Musician and activist featured on the episode
Musician, visiting artist at NYU (as discussed)
Episode: Maggie Rogers: going viral is a trap
Pat Monahan
Lead singer and songwriter of Train
Train
Episode: Learning to Love Train: "Drops of Jupiter" is back in the atmosphere
Fran Hoepfner
Wrote an article titled The Death of the Classic Film Score.
Vulture
Episode: Will Sinners do for blues what O Brother did for bluegrass?
Chris Duffy
Host of the TED podcast, How To Be A Better Human, and author of Humor Me, How Laughing Can Make You More Present, Creative and Happy.
TED podcast
Episode: Does humor belong in music?
Audrey Hobert
A rising pop artist and songwriter who co-wrote hits for Gracie Abrams and released her own debut album.
Independent Artist
Episode: Audrey Hobert says the quiet part out loud

Hosts

Nate Sloan
Musicologist and host; co-host of the show, often leads musical analysis and industry context discussions.
Charlie Harding
Songwriter and host; brings songwriting perspective and lyrical analysis to episodes.
Reanna Krauss
Producer and content collaborator; often features guest analysis and helps shape episode structure.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 5.6k ratings
  • A little like navel gazing

    Don’t get me wrong these dudes seem to know their stuff when it comes to western pop and western influences on some music. When it comes to Kpop well I’d listen to the communication professor from USC (?) as she seems more informed. So “normal” pop ya give these guys a try but stepping outside that wheelhouse? They don’t seem to do much research as stuff was flying over their heads.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nights Ending
    United Statesa month ago
  • Pls

    Can you do one of stray kids and enhypen please

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stray kidfan
    United Statesa month ago
  • Lack of Katy Perry content

    Is pissing me off. True art and hard work shall be celebrated

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    KatyKatKing
    United States2 months ago
  • 🩷

    I love this podcast but I wish they did a episode on Megan moronies newvalbum cloud 9!!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Wrestling Queen! 🤼‍♀️
    United States2 months ago
  • Artist Recommendation

    Could you please do Em Beihold? She has a new album and it is bomb. Good pod. 😎

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    🥸🏳️‍🌈♓️🥖💜🎭👻🧀
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise deep musical knowledge and engaging banter between hosts.
Fans want more coverage of non-US pop and K-pop but still rate the show highly for expertise.
Many appreciate thoughtful deep dives that illuminate production choices in pop hits.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rostam reimagines American music
Q: How do you begin producing an album when working with different collaborators?
He describes a flexible approach: sometimes starting from scratch in the studio, other times building around the artist's initial idea, with collaborative production shaping the final sound.
Rostam reimagines American music
Q: What is the feeling you're telling us about in this album?
Rostam explains that the album explores intimate relationships and emotional ownership within a broader, optimistic vision of the American project, balancing personal vulnerability with a larger sense of national identity.
BTS is back. But K Pop is not the same.
Q: Hye Jin, what was your reaction when you heard this album title and heard this interpolation of this Korean folk song in the opening track of the album?
Hye Jin explains that using Arirang as a framework creates a bold, high-visibility through-line that anchors the album in Korean heritage while still opening space for global, contemporary pop influences. She notes the careful balance BTS strikes between tradition and modernity, and how the interpolation signals intentional Koreanness in a world-ready package.
Learning to Love Train: "Drops of Jupiter" is back in the atmosphere
Q: Did you ever imagine Drops of Jupiter would have this kind of longevity?
No, never. We didn't expect it to last this long, and the success came with its own set of pressures and expectations, which shaped how we approached future music and public reception.
Learning to Love Train: "Drops of Jupiter" is back in the atmosphere
Q: Charlie, I'm going to name some things and you tell me what they make you think of, okay?
Things like Mozart, Taibo, fried chicken and the best soy latte you've ever had evoke a mixture of nostalgia, specificity, and personal anchors that inform the song's grounded storytelling, ultimately contributing to its lasting resonance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Switched on Pop

What is Switched on Pop about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers in-depth explorations of pop music through a blend of scholarly analysis and practical industry insight. Across episodes, hosts dissect contemporary releases, discuss production techniques, and trace how artists balance innovation with mainstream appeal. It frequently features conversations with songwriters, producers, and artists, offering listeners a nuanced view of songwriting decisions, sonic textures, and genre crossover dynamics. A standout trait is the consistent, data-informed approach to pop, paired with approachable storytelling and a sense of humor that keeps complex topics engaging for music-minded professionals and curious fans alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Switched on Pop?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Switched on Pop. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Switched on Pop and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Switched on Pop get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Switched on Pop, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Switched on Pop?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Switched on Pop, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Switched on Pop have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Switched on Pop has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Switched on Pop?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Switched on Pop:

1. Popcast
2. Song Exploder
3. Pop Culture Happy Hour
4. The Sam Sanders Show
5. Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

How many episodes of Switched on Pop are there?

Switched on Pop launched 12 years ago and published 532 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Switched on Pop?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Switched on Pop?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Switched on Pop from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Switched on Pop?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Switched on Pop. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Switched on Pop?

Recent guests on Switched on Pop include:

1. Samara Cyn
2. Gucci Caliente
3. Haley Joel
4. Hye Jin Lee
5. Maggie Rogers
6. Pat Monahan
7. Fran Hoepfner
8. Chris Duffy

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days